Sleeve type of internal-combustion engine



June 9, 1925.

. R. 1.. SKINNER SLEEVE TYPE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION EJIG'IIH TJ FiledDec. 8, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 9, 1925. 1,541,072

R. L. SKINNER SLEEVE TYPE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Fil'ed Dec. 8,1922 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Maw/055:

Patented June 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH L. SKINNER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SKINNER AUTOMOTIVEDEVICE CO., INC., OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OECALIFORNIA.

SLEEVE TYPE OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed December a, 1922. Serial No. 605,565.

7 '0 all whom it may (307166!77 Be it known that I, RALPH L. SKINNER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county ofWayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sleeve Type of Internal-Combustion Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improved and novel means for withdrawing fluidsfrom'. around the reciprocatory pistons of internalcombustion motors orengines, whereby to prevent the passage of the lubricating oil upwardlyby the pistons into the combustion or explosion chambers, where itspresence is likely to form carbon deposits and to foul or short-circuitthe spark-plugs, and to prevent the downward passage of liquids andgases including unconsumed fuel and'the products of combustion, past thepistons into the crank-case of the engine where they dilute andcontaminate tlieoil supply.

This broad idea forms the subject-matter of a companion co-pendingpatent application, Serial Number 472,746 filed May 26th,

1921. the current invention relating more particularly to engines havingone or more sliding sleeves around the pistons and con-- -cerning moreespecially engines of the Knight type wherein each cylinder is fittedwith two reciprocatory sleeves one within another, although theinvention in its broader aspects relates to constructions using poppetor other valves, and to those wherein a single reciprocating sleeveisused to control the cylinder port at which suction is applied towithdraw the fluids referred to.

In the Knight style of engine it is also desirable to draw oti fluids,principally lubrieating oil, from the annular chamber at the tops-of thenested sleeves to prevent their passage by the rings in the head of thecvlin-.

der into the combustion chamber.

To enable those skilled in this art to have a-full and completeunderstanding of the invention and its'various advantages, in theaccompan ing drawin forming a partof this speci cation and t roughoutthe several views "of i which like reference characters have beenemployed for the same. parts, there have been shown two desirableembodiments of'the invention.

In these drawings: Figure 1 IS a sectional view of one cylinder of aKnight type of engine fitted with the improvement constituting thesubjectniatter of this invention including an oil separating tank ortrap;

Figure'2 is a face view of the piston used in such engine; ,I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section through a side of'the piston wall; and

Figure 4 shows in section an engine of the poppet valve type equippedwith a single reciprocat-ory sleeve between the piston and inner sleeve21 actuated by an eccentric appliance 20 and having ports 22- and 23,designed to co-act in the usual manner in the Knight type of engine withthe ports of the outer sleeve and the ports of the cylinder.

As is customary in this style ofengine the cylindrical portion of thecylinder-head projecting into the cylinder inside of the-inner sleeve isfitted with the usual rings 24; 25, and 26 bearing outwardly against theinter nal face of the inner sleeve to maintain a compression-proofrelation therewith, hence reventing escape of fluids under pressure inthe cylinder into the chamber 27 between the cylinder and thecylinder-head above the companion sleeves.

Inside of the inner sleeve, the reciprocatory piston 28 is employedbeing associated with the crank-shaft, not shown, by the connecting-rod29, and the cylinder, piston, and sleeves are lubricated in the usualway bythe splash or forced feed system or a combination of the two or inany other suitable manner.

Around its upper portion only, this piston has a plurality ofpiston-ring grooves and their piston-rings 31, 32, and 33 the lowermostring 33 being annularly channeled at 34 on its inner face, its pistongroove 35 being somewhat deeper tha'n the others, the outer face of thepiston below such lower ring having a longitudinal groove 36communicating at its upper end by a channel 37 with the lowerpiston-ring groove back of its r1ng.

In the two embodiments of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 4,the pistons are alike, and it is to be noted that diametrically oppositethe lengthwise, external channel 37, such lower piston-ring groove hasan air inlet passage or port 40 extended inwardly through thepiston-skirt into the hollow intrior of the piston and hencecommunicating with the air in the crank-case.

At the point 38, the cylinder side wall is supplied with a port oropening fitted with a, pipe 41 extended through the waterjac et to theoutside of the cylinder, and, in similar manner, the chamber 27 hasv aport 42 1eading to the outside of the cylinder wall, these two ports oroplenings 38 and 42 being in line with the pat of travel of the pistongroove 36.

This upper chamber or compartment 27 is also supplied, opposite port 42,with an airinlet ort 43 extended to the outer air throug a small wall 44traversing the water-jacket of the cylinder-head.

The two pipes 45 and 46 for the two ports 38 and 42 are connected to asingle pipe 47 delivering into an oil separatoror trap 48 of'anylsuitable design, the u pler portion of the interior of such tank andonce the two ports 38 and 42 connected thereto being subject to thesub-atmospheric fpressure or suction of the intake manifold o the engineby reason of the pipe 49 which connects the tank to such mamfold, thelower end of the tank having a delivery pipe 51 by means of which theseparated or reclaimed oil is returned to the crank-case, the tank or sea rator being heated, if desired, although t 's is not always necessary,to facilitate the separation.

The construction of a tank suitable for this purpose is' presented indetail in my 00s pending patent application, Serial Number 587,026,filed September 8th, 1922.

The inner sleeve 21 has a port or opening 52. therethrou h in line withthe cylinder port 38 and uring the movements of the sleeve it is adaptedto be brought into register therewith.

On the other hand, the outer sleeve .14 has two spaced ports 53 and 54in line with the ports 52 and 38 and designed at the right moments to bebrought opposite such ports and to establish communlcation between thetwo. When the ports of both sleeves are oppo Bite the cylinder port,then the suction exerted in theseparating tank and ipin system isoperative through the c anne 36 and 37 to withdraw the accumulatedfluids in the lower-most piston-ring groove, but when the sleeve portsare out of register, the suction action around the piston is temporarilyinterru ted.

Of course, t 1e groove or channel 36 on the outer face of the piston isin operative relation with the port of the inner shell or sleeve duringa large portion of the piston stroke and by using a plurality of portsin the outer sleeve co-acting with the port of the inner sleeve, thesuction exerted on the cylin'der port is rendered active on the pistonand its piston-ring groove during a material part of the reciprocatorymovement of the piston, whereby an effective withdrawal of the fluids isassured, the separation occurring in the trap, the gases, vapor, and airpassing to the intake manifold under the suction action, the reclaimedoil being returned to the crank-case intermittently under atmosphericpressure.

When the cylinder port would be otherwise uncovered by the piston skirt,it is closed by the one or the other sleeve so that the suctioncondition of the system is not interfered with by an inrush of airthrough such port.

At the same time, the constantly applied suction to the chamber 27withdraws the oil which accumulates therein passing upwardly into suchcom artment between the sleeves and between the outer sleeve and the clinder, this removal of the oil being assisted by the air entering thevent 43 which not only facilitates the suction withdrawal of the oil butalso aerates the oil preparing it for treatment in the se aratorn Thisis also true of t e piston-ring groove air vent or bleeder port 40 whichpermi the entrance of air to the groove hence ai ing in the discharge ofits contents and mixing the oil with the added air in which condition itis abstracted from around the piston.

Thus the oil is prevented from passing down by the piston-rings of thestationary cylinder-head into the combustion chamber, and if there isany tendency to leakage by such rings during compression of theexplosive gaseous mixture any fluids thus escaping are captured,withdrawn, and returned to the intake-manifold of the engine.

Similarly the lubricating oil is barred from passing upwardly by therings on the into the crank-case.

In my co-pending patent application 80- prevented from passing down bythe piston rial Number 472,746, I have shown means for removing, thefluids from around the pistons of poppet-valve type of engines, suchpistons having extensions on their skirts to cooperate with the suctionports in the. cylinder side walls, whereby such ports will not beuncovered during the piston stroke.

The embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 4 employs areciprocatory sleeve between the piston and the cylinder and thus avoidsthe necessity for the piston-skirt extension. a

In this case the piston is the same as in the other embodiment and thecylinder side wall has a port ()1 therethrough connected by a pipe (32to the separator tank or trap 48, the latterhaving the same connections49 to a suction producing means such as the intake manifold of theengine, and 51 to the oiling system of the motor,

A sleeve, .reciprocated by an eccentric mechanism (56, is interposedbetween the piston and cylinder and it has two ports (34 and adapted tobe brought successively into register with the cylinder port 61 duringthe sleeve stroke.

Thus the suction removal of the fluids from around the piston occursover a substantial portion of the piston travel and the cylinder port isclosed. by the sleeve when the piston is in such position-or positionsthat the cylinder port would otherwise be uncovered by the piston.

Accordingly, the continuous suction in the trap: is not interfered withbecause the cylinder port is open only when the piston is In properposition for the removal of the fluid contents of its piston-ringgroove.

The invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, the twopresented being submitted by way of example only and accordingly manyminor mechanical changes may be made in the structures depicted withoutdeparture from the heart and essence of the invention and without thesacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.

I claim: 1. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of acylinder having a port in its side-wall. an externally channeled pistonreciprocatory in said cylinder, means to ap-.

ply suction to said cylinder-port, a sleeve between said piston andcylinder having a port cooperating with said cylinder-port and with thepiston channel means to recip rocate said sleeve. and means to supplylubricant to said cylinder, piston and sleeve.

2. In aninternal-combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder havinga port in its side-wall,- an externally channeled piston reciprocatoryin said cylinder, means to. apply suction tosaid cylinder-port, a sleevebetween said'piston and cylinder having a plurality of spaced portsadapted t'o-cooperate with said cylinder-port and with the pistonchannel, means to reciprocate said sleeve, and means to supply lubricantto said cylinder, piston and sleeve.

3. In an internal-combustionengine, the combination of a cylinder havinga port in its side-wall, a pistop reciprocatory in said cylinder havinga piston-ring groove equipped with an air-inlet port, a pistonring insaid groove, said piston having an external longitudinal groove inregister with said cylinder-port and in communication with saidpiston-ring roove, means to apply suction to said cylint er-port, a.port.- ed sleeve between said piston and cylinder cooperating with saidcylinder-port and with said longitudinal piston groove, means toreciprocate said sleeve, and means to supply lubricant to said cylinder,piston and sleeve.

4. In an internal-combustion engine, the

equipped with a port, a piston-ring in said groove, said piston havingan 'external .-lou'- gitudinal groove in register with said'cylinder-port and in communication With said piston-ring groove, meansto apply .difl'erent pneumatic pressures to said piston-ring groove portand said cylinder ort, a orted sleevebetween said piston ant, cylindercooperating withsaid cylinder port and said longitudinal piston groove,means to reciprocate said sleeve, andmeans to supply lubricant to saidcylinder, piston and sleeve.

5. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination. of a cylinderhaving a port in its side-wall, an open-ended piston recip rocatory insaid cylinder having a pistonringgroove equipped with an air-inlet portextended through the piston-wall to its hollow interior, a pistonsringin said groove, said piston'having an external longitudinal groove inregister with said cylinder-port and in communication withsaidpiston-ring groove behind the iston-ring, means to ap ply suction tosai cylinder-port, a sleeve tween said piston and cylinder having aplurality of spaced ports adapted to 000perate with said cylinder-portand with said longitudinal piston groove, means to reciprocatesaidsleeve, and means to supply lu-- bric'ant to said cylinder, piston andsleeve.

6. In an internal-combustion engine of the Knight type, the combinationof a cylinder having Inlet and exhaust ports and a der ports, means toreciprocate said sleeves, means to supply lubricant to said cylinder,piston and sleeves, and means to apply suction to said'supplementalcylinder port to withdraw the contents of the piston channel through thecorresponding ports of said sleeves,

7. In an internal-combustion engine of the Knight type, the combinationof a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports and a supplemental port inits side-wall, a reciprocatory externally channeled piston in saidcylinder with an air-inlet .port to said channel, said piston having anexternal longitudinal groove in register with said supplemental port andin communication with said piston-channel, inner and outer sleevesbetween said piston and cylinder having ports therethrongh cooperatingwith said cylinder-port and said piston groove, and other portsc'oacting with said inlet and exhaust ports meansv to reciprocate saidsleeves, means to supply lubricant to said cylinder, sleeves and piston,and means to apply suction to" said supplemental cylinder-port towithdraw the contents of the piston channel through the correspondingports of said sleeves.

8:1In an internal-combustion engine of the Knight type, the combinationof a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports and a supplemental port inits side-wall, a reciprocatory externally channeled piston in saidcylinder having an air-inlet port for such chann l, inner and outersleeves between said plston and cylinder having ports therethroughcooperating with all of said cylinder ports, means to reciprocate saidsleeves, means to supply lubricant to said cylinder, sleeves and piston,and means to apply suction to said supplemental port to withdraw thecontents of the piston channel through the corresponding ports of saidsleeves, one at least of said sleeves having a plurality of spaced portscooperating with said supplemental cylinder port.

9. In an internal-combustion engine of the Knight type, the combinationof acylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a reciprocatory piston insaid cylinder, inner and outer sleeves between said piston and cylinderhaving ports therethrough cooperating with said cylinder ports, means toreciprocate said sleeves, means to supply lubricant to said cylinder,sleeves and piston, and

"means to withdraw fluids from the chamher in said cylinder beyond theinner ends of said sleeves.

10. In an internal-combustion engine of the Knight type, the combinationof a cylinder, a cylinder-head therefor, a piston reciprocatory in saidcylinder, a pair of sleeves between said piston 'and cylinder with theirinner end portions between said cylinder-head and cylinder, means toreciprocate said sleeves, means. to supply a lubricant to said cylinder,piston and sleeves, said cylinder andsleeves having cooperating inletsand exhaust ports, and means to withdraw fluids from the annular chamberbeyond the inner ends of the sleeves between said cylinder-head andcylinder.

11. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a portedcylinder, a reciprocatory piston therein,a sleeve between said cylinderand piston, the inner end of which is accommodated in an annular chamberin said cylinder means to reciprocate said sleeve, means to supplylubricant to said cylinder, piston. and sleeve, and means to withdrawfluids from the chamber in said cylinder beyond the inner end of saidsleeve.

12. In an intemal-combustion engine of the Knight type, the combinationof a ported cylinder, a cylinder-head projecting into said cylinder, areciprocatory piston in said cylinder, a pair of ported sleeves betweensaid piston and cylinder, means to reciprocate said sleeves, means tosupply lubricant to'said cylinder, sleeves and piston, means to withdrawfluids from around said piston, and means to withdraw fluids from theannular chamber between said cylinder and cylinder-head beyond the endsof said sleeves.

13. In an internal-combustion engine of the Knight type, the combinationofacylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a reci rocatory piston insaid 0 linder, inner and outer sleeves between sai piston and cylinderhaving ports theret hrough cooperating with said cylinder ports, meansto reciprocate said sleeves, means to supply lubricant to said cylinder,sleeves and piston, said cylinder having a chamber receiving the innerends of said sleeves, said chamber being provided with an airinlet-port, and means to withdraw fluids from said chamber beyond theinner ends of said sleeves.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

RALPH L. SKINNER. [as]

